Assumption Church in Broadview Heights ready for fish fry season

Ed Zastawny of Broadview Heights has offered his assistance to the Assumption Church “Fantastic Friday Fish Fry” for 10 years. On Feb. 15, he was on pierogi cooking and sautéing duty.
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS -- It started Jan. 6 and ended Monday. The hours spent in the Assumption Church kitchen mixing dough, preparing fillings, chopping onion and sauteing butter has totaled 23,000 pierogies.

Not to mention 350 pounds of homemade Haluski noodles, dozens of containers of secret-recipe cole slaw, crates of 25-pound cases of Amish Country prunes and numerous deliveries of cod, crab cake and shrimp from Sysco.

While the fish fry is a money-maker for the Broadview Heights church, it is also a celebration of faith and goodwill. The Rev. Justin Dyrwal, pastor at Assumption, said the annual Lenten event promotes community on many levels.

“It is a time to come together in celebration of Lent and a renewal of ourselves,” he said. “We follow the law of the church and make it enjoyable as we celebrate our faith and act as ambassadors of goodwill.”

On Monday, more than 20 parishioners gathered in the church kitchen to make the last hundred dozens of potato, cheese, kraut and prune pierogi. Volunteers have gathered every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday for weeks. Some even give up their weekends and arrive at the kitchen as early as 5 a.m.

Lee Scholle, the pierogi “CEO,” is one of those people. She has held her post for 18 years. The brains behind the dough was Pauline Palush, who started the event two years prior.

“When we first started, we were chopping our own onions and cabbage,” Scholle said. “We serve up to 1,400 people a night. Last year, the fish fry grossed $64,000 for the church. Representatives from Sysco service 140 fish fries in the county and has said ours is the largest.”

While the majority of pierogi makers are seasoned veterans, there were some fresh faces this year, Scholle said.

Being a beginner isn’t a problem though. Everyone graciously trains newcomers like Broadview Heights resident Barb Rieth, who created dozens of cheese pierogi.

“Helping out with this event makes me feel like I am doing something good for the church,” Rieth said. “For years my husband has volunteered and has always asked me to help out. This year I decided I would.”

For 12-year-old Michelle Wargo of Mayfield Heights, it is precious time spent with her grandmother Lois of Broadview Heights. Lois has been assisting with the fish fry for 45 years. This year, she rolled out the pierogi dough alongside Michelle.

“It’s a lot of fun and not that difficult,” Michelle said of the task.

The event reminds Broadview Heights resident Ed Zastawny of his years growing up in Cleveland watching his mother make pierogies. His mother’s Polish roots meant little boys only observed home-cooking.

“I never helped my mother make the pierogi,” Zastawny said. “But this event is fun and is nice comradely.”

The fish fry is old hat for Kay Luksa, 83, of Broadview Heights.

“I learned all my skills here,” Luksa said. “My favorite pierogi are prune. It tastes like a dessert. This event is just fantastic.”

Patrons can choose from a main dish of two fried cod or crab cakes, 10 shrimp or six pierogi. Side dishes include “Haluski” commonly called cabbage and noodles, French fries, cole slaw and applesauce. Adult dinners are $8 and children age 12 and younger can dine for $4. Senior dinners cost $7.

Orders can also be phoned in after 4 p.m. by calling (440) 546-9552. A one-dozen bag of pierogi cost $7.

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